Star Stuff

Star Stuff is a cute puzzle game that combines basic programming with classic puzzle solving. Each puzzle has a few robots that need to be programmed to help you reach and press the goal button. Star Stuff is designed to be as approachable as possible while still offering a good amount of challenge, and it topped the Best Approachable Game category at the 2024 Thinky Awards.

You control Mija, a newly recruited engineer at the Popoca star factory. It is only their first day, yet the factory is in crisis and it is up to you to fix everything. Beside this premise, a few pieces of lore can be found on billboards, but there is no story developed in Star Stuff; only puzzles presented in a polished, colorful space station. The goal of each puzzle is to reach a floor button behind obstacles, using various robots and mechanisms to open the way.

Each level contains a terminal station for programming the robots in the room. Star Stuff makes programming easier by suggesting a very small number of commands (e.g. “pick up”, “go to”) and removing typing altogether. You just have to drag and drop the commands you want and select their targets in the room. The number of commands each robot can receive depends on the puzzle, but it is always limited and optimization is mandatory. Once your code is finished, you can run it and the robots will start executing their commands.

However, programming the robots is not enough to solve the puzzles, as Mija often needs to take specific actions while the code runs. For instance, you may have to activate a bridge from a switch so that a robot can reach its target and complete its commands. That contrast between writing code and actually interfering with it is what makes Star Stuff special. It efficiently combines intuitive programming with a more traditional trend of puzzle solving, resulting in a fresh experience. That also means the game has significant timing requirements, but you can always rewind if you make a mistake.

More robot types and commands are introduced as you progress, yet the game never strays from its simple approach. It only gets harder by becoming smarter: even the most difficult puzzles only require a few commands. Speaking of difficulty, Star Stuff does not forget players looking for a challenge, as each area includes optional puzzles designed to be trickier. Hints are always available if you happen to get stuck.

This description was written by Andréas Andrieux.